On November 10, 2006 the Halifax Police Service announced their intention to install police monitored CCTV in the downtown core “as early as this weekend”.
This a watershed event. Before this the only cams were privately owned, outside bars and stores, and while still viewing public space these units were for protection of private property.
The new police cams are instruments of social control. It’s a victory for the cold dead hand of government and of police, and a great loss for the piblic. It’s an erosion of privacy rights. Something is being stolen from us this weekend.
Wake up!
We will soon put out a call for members of the Surveillance Camera Players of Halifax.
Our purpose will be to draw attention to police cameras through geuurilla theatre and creative protest and activities like letter writing, etc.
Stay tuned!
See http://jvangurp.com/halifaxcams for a complete history
Brian | 06-Feb-07 at 1:39 pm | Permalink
jvangurp:
I’m sorry, but your argument has absolutely no grounds (not because I disagree with what you’re trying to say, but because the example you gave is so far removed that you’re comparing apples to oranges). It’s called closed circuit television for a reason – law enforcement officials are the only ones with access to the information. Of course we’d all be uncomfortable if a camera crew followed us around and then broadcasted it through a medium that others have access to – it’s a violation of our rights for others in the public to be able to monitor us. The data being gathered by the CCTV system will never be seen by the public UNLESS used as evidence when something bad DOES happen. Why would it matter to you if your (innocent) movements are being ignored (key word) by eyes who are trained to spot serious problems? I suppose that your next mission is to file a lawsuit against CBC or CTV the next time they setup a camera on a busy street to show some pedestrian traffic for filler during their news broadcasts? That happens every day, and I’d say that hits more of what you’re worried about.
Brian | 06-Feb-07 at 1:43 pm | Permalink
A further note…. I notice that on your site you say that CCTV is a “small-minded, fear driven and a simplistic approach to dealing with crime”. Why do stores have CCTV? It’s an extremely effective detterent. And, if it doesn’t act as a deterrent, its an extremely effective law enforcement tool because it provides indisputable evidence when a case comes to trial. When you have some spare time, I suggest you do some research into how effective CCTV has been for the Washington DC police department. Crime rates continue to decrease. If you have more time, look into London England. Those are two major examples that come to mind.